Master of the Game
Who\ Who
Master of the Game THE QUIETEST MENTION OF HABIB MAWS VISIONS OF COLOURED CONSTELLATIONS CASCADE INTO MIND DATO' MEER HABIB SHOWS RUBINI KAMALAKARANFINE SIGHTS FROM THE FIELD OF JEWELLERY
66
help," he recalK At that time
Y FATHER HAS ALWAYS
the bustness was st ill wholesale, a direction it steered towards in its formative years to eater to the traffic of international shoppers to Penang "I'm a marketing guy which one otthebest traits I picked up from my studies in the US. So I did a market survey and we decided that KL was the place to be. Within the first year..we opened our first retail shop in Kl.." reveals Dato' Meer of the crucial shift to retail and to the capital city Dato' Meer attnbutes to his father his spirit of ent repreneurialism, as well as other valuable ley sons which he says make him who he is today "He has taught me honesty and sincerity but abos.• all, the importance of being nice to everyone, regard. les of their background," appreciates Dato' Meers A perfectiomst from the heart and a firm in the old adage that if)ou aœ gotng to do it, do it right and do it well from the first, he admits toa certain measure of impatience. "Such is life, when you need to get things done fast and says Dato' Meer ringtngly, Accordtng to Dato'. a wholesomely competitive spirit is always healthy as it keeps everyone on their toes. AT A That explains the fair amount GLANCE i of risk-taking engaged in { since he stepped into HABIB W •teDatin Zanda Habitx two sons with hrs briefcase in hand, so and a daughter to speak, "When you an entrepreneur, you tend to risk Sam Wùon, Walmake mistakes and along the Mart founder i way." One of the risks was Morro
likened our business to [that of) a priAã1te banker!" Dato' Meer Sadik Habib says chuckling. The managing director of the premier homegrown jexsellery business, HABIB,continues to hold dear the same values that his father, HABIB's founder, instilled 50 years ago when the enterprise was new, such as confidentiality. "Manv of our customers tecl completely at ease with us, often sharing their personal probe tems and We are not only their jewellery consultant hut sometimes a therapist too!" Dato' Meer jokes Osx•rthe years, the HABIB brand has built many prveious customer relationships and grown many friendships, adds Dato' Meer The elder Habit). Dato's father Tuan Haji t labib Mohamed, first establvshed HABIB under the name M.A. Habib Mohamed on Penangs into the business Pitt Street. "My father around happy occabecause it always sions," shares Dato' Meet He tondly recalls. stadies dressed in ketkt.yaarriving at the shop in trishaws. They took great pride... It was a happier and simplet time too. the shop was filled with laughter and chatter." Dato' Meer as a child used to pop into the shop a tier school or sports to help his Cither. le stepped onboard in an otiicial capacity, after completing a degree in Business Administration at Wichita State University in the USA even though his interests inclined towards the creaarts —so resolved was he to become useful to the family enterprtse, He later studied gemology at the Gemological Institute ot' America, preparing to the last facet trom tar his destined tututv. "When I
the US,
immediately I was roped in to
lite to the fuBest hard, play hard"
NAPPY HOUDAV
J at RM200and hittingthe gavel for a paltry RM500 "Of course thetv ts a loss but the
the
MAtAYSiA
holding auctions. starting the bidding on a RMIO,OOOpiece
9
Who's Who which may not be growing on the family tree. Corporatisation also paved the way for the company to become Malaysia's first publicAtsted Jeweller. an achievement which Dato' Meer naturally refers to as one of HA BIB's biggest successes. This year ISespecially sweet
because it marks the celebration of HABIB's50th anniversary, with ".„several small scale par ties because we want to make sure it's very personalised and our customers feel completely appreciated," plots Dato' Meer considerately He adds. "We are also bringmg back some of our old pieces like the 'ctnctn kapal terbang' but With a more contemporary look and [overall about] fifty ofour bestsellers."
"Jlyfather handed me a lot 1' onreedom...but until today / discuss everyhing with him RISK TAKER Thanks to Dato's dartng, HABIB •s publtcly-iisted and lookng ahead jn detail to the next half-century
publicity and the word of mouth that came from that made up for the loss!" says the capable MD "My father handed me a lot of freedom to run the business but until todav I discuss everything with him before I embark on anything Not so but more like to get his much to get his blessings," explains Dato' Meer about mixtng family feeling Into lus free reign. The sagactous patriarch still occupies an advisory role as company chairman. One might assume that HABIB is a familyxun affair but Dato' Meer clarifies, "My wife is the executive director and I have a sisterin-law who is a consultant. Other than that, we don't have any family members." The company is now structured with diffCrcnt organisauonal tiers much as most corporations are, With the necessary legal, logistics and human resource centres - requtnng forms of experttsc MALAYSIA TATEER
( 08
For this farmly"ounded corporation, it's not too soon to be envisioning the next 50 years —which show no signs of slowing down, when the human dynamo that is Dato' Meer is busily laying down more targets for the company and for himself His routines include tai chi sessions twice a week. and starting every day With local coffee (kaw) or teh tarik after which it's all work. To unwmd after a hectic day, he chooses to be with family and friends. Describing his career, he says, "It has been one exciting ride! Challenging of course but emoyable nonetheless Y He learned along the way that there are no shortcuts in life and success boils down to one thing —hard work. Nonetheless, one of the traits he wtshes he had Picked up when younger. IShow to read people better from the first impression. "Having this skill would have been an added advantage as it would've prevented mistakes [from] an inaccurate Judgment of character" Dato' Meer candidly reveals that it took him years to build such a skill. but he's enjoying it now and the
better choices that it facilitates, Ultimately, the driving force behind his transcendence in the Industry, his great pleasure making people look and feel good "'Beautiful jewellery never falls in enhancing a person's appearance and adding a "feel-good- factor The expenence [of betngj part of this process over and over again is extremely rewarding." But if he were green a chance to relise hts life. -l might haxe tryed my hand tn the entertatnmcnt Industry Who knows, maybe Bollym•od or he such shilling laughs It's no xsonder that be dreams, when his shine from wrthtn
OCTOBER 2008
Master of the Game THE QUIETEST MENTION OF HABIB MAWS VISIONS OF COLOURED CONSTELLATIONS CASCADE INTO MIND DATO' MEER HABIB SHOWS RUBINI KAMALAKARANFINE SIGHTS FROM THE FIELD OF JEWELLERY
66
help," he recalK At that time
Y FATHER HAS ALWAYS
the bustness was st ill wholesale, a direction it steered towards in its formative years to eater to the traffic of international shoppers to Penang "I'm a marketing guy which one otthebest traits I picked up from my studies in the US. So I did a market survey and we decided that KL was the place to be. Within the first year..we opened our first retail shop in Kl.." reveals Dato' Meer of the crucial shift to retail and to the capital city Dato' Meer attnbutes to his father his spirit of ent repreneurialism, as well as other valuable ley sons which he says make him who he is today "He has taught me honesty and sincerity but abos.• all, the importance of being nice to everyone, regard. les of their background," appreciates Dato' Meers A perfectiomst from the heart and a firm in the old adage that if)ou aœ gotng to do it, do it right and do it well from the first, he admits toa certain measure of impatience. "Such is life, when you need to get things done fast and says Dato' Meer ringtngly, Accordtng to Dato'. a wholesomely competitive spirit is always healthy as it keeps everyone on their toes. AT A That explains the fair amount GLANCE i of risk-taking engaged in { since he stepped into HABIB W •teDatin Zanda Habitx two sons with hrs briefcase in hand, so and a daughter to speak, "When you an entrepreneur, you tend to risk Sam Wùon, Walmake mistakes and along the Mart founder i way." One of the risks was Morro
likened our business to [that of) a priAã1te banker!" Dato' Meer Sadik Habib says chuckling. The managing director of the premier homegrown jexsellery business, HABIB,continues to hold dear the same values that his father, HABIB's founder, instilled 50 years ago when the enterprise was new, such as confidentiality. "Manv of our customers tecl completely at ease with us, often sharing their personal probe tems and We are not only their jewellery consultant hut sometimes a therapist too!" Dato' Meer jokes Osx•rthe years, the HABIB brand has built many prveious customer relationships and grown many friendships, adds Dato' Meer The elder Habit). Dato's father Tuan Haji t labib Mohamed, first establvshed HABIB under the name M.A. Habib Mohamed on Penangs into the business Pitt Street. "My father around happy occabecause it always sions," shares Dato' Meet He tondly recalls. stadies dressed in ketkt.yaarriving at the shop in trishaws. They took great pride... It was a happier and simplet time too. the shop was filled with laughter and chatter." Dato' Meer as a child used to pop into the shop a tier school or sports to help his Cither. le stepped onboard in an otiicial capacity, after completing a degree in Business Administration at Wichita State University in the USA even though his interests inclined towards the creaarts —so resolved was he to become useful to the family enterprtse, He later studied gemology at the Gemological Institute ot' America, preparing to the last facet trom tar his destined tututv. "When I
the US,
immediately I was roped in to
lite to the fuBest hard, play hard"
NAPPY HOUDAV
J at RM200and hittingthe gavel for a paltry RM500 "Of course thetv ts a loss but the
the
MAtAYSiA
holding auctions. starting the bidding on a RMIO,OOOpiece
9
Who's Who which may not be growing on the family tree. Corporatisation also paved the way for the company to become Malaysia's first publicAtsted Jeweller. an achievement which Dato' Meer naturally refers to as one of HA BIB's biggest successes. This year ISespecially sweet
because it marks the celebration of HABIB's50th anniversary, with ".„several small scale par ties because we want to make sure it's very personalised and our customers feel completely appreciated," plots Dato' Meer considerately He adds. "We are also bringmg back some of our old pieces like the 'ctnctn kapal terbang' but With a more contemporary look and [overall about] fifty ofour bestsellers."
"Jlyfather handed me a lot 1' onreedom...but until today / discuss everyhing with him RISK TAKER Thanks to Dato's dartng, HABIB •s publtcly-iisted and lookng ahead jn detail to the next half-century
publicity and the word of mouth that came from that made up for the loss!" says the capable MD "My father handed me a lot of freedom to run the business but until todav I discuss everything with him before I embark on anything Not so but more like to get his much to get his blessings," explains Dato' Meer about mixtng family feeling Into lus free reign. The sagactous patriarch still occupies an advisory role as company chairman. One might assume that HABIB is a familyxun affair but Dato' Meer clarifies, "My wife is the executive director and I have a sisterin-law who is a consultant. Other than that, we don't have any family members." The company is now structured with diffCrcnt organisauonal tiers much as most corporations are, With the necessary legal, logistics and human resource centres - requtnng forms of experttsc MALAYSIA TATEER
( 08
For this farmly"ounded corporation, it's not too soon to be envisioning the next 50 years —which show no signs of slowing down, when the human dynamo that is Dato' Meer is busily laying down more targets for the company and for himself His routines include tai chi sessions twice a week. and starting every day With local coffee (kaw) or teh tarik after which it's all work. To unwmd after a hectic day, he chooses to be with family and friends. Describing his career, he says, "It has been one exciting ride! Challenging of course but emoyable nonetheless Y He learned along the way that there are no shortcuts in life and success boils down to one thing —hard work. Nonetheless, one of the traits he wtshes he had Picked up when younger. IShow to read people better from the first impression. "Having this skill would have been an added advantage as it would've prevented mistakes [from] an inaccurate Judgment of character" Dato' Meer candidly reveals that it took him years to build such a skill. but he's enjoying it now and the
better choices that it facilitates, Ultimately, the driving force behind his transcendence in the Industry, his great pleasure making people look and feel good "'Beautiful jewellery never falls in enhancing a person's appearance and adding a "feel-good- factor The expenence [of betngj part of this process over and over again is extremely rewarding." But if he were green a chance to relise hts life. -l might haxe tryed my hand tn the entertatnmcnt Industry Who knows, maybe Bollym•od or he such shilling laughs It's no xsonder that be dreams, when his shine from wrthtn
OCTOBER 2008
